It was the church father Cyprian (3rd century AD) who famously posited that if we are to think of God as our Father, then we ought to think of the church as our mother. There’s certainly something to be said for that analogy: the church is the bride of Christ. She is responsible for teaching us about Jesus. When she makes decisions, she does so with the intent of following the Father’s wishes – something she’s able to do because the Spirit of God lives in her. She strives to see us grow up in our faith – to see us grow in Christ-likeness. She celebrates with us when life goes well – reminding us that is God’s loving kindness that has blessed us. She comforts us when we need comfort – not by her own power, but by helping us to see Christ anew. She is with us in both the highs and the lows of life. She encourages us to bring our friends home. In fact, she longs for nothing more than to have an extended family – offering the father’s adoption to all she comes into contact with. She stands against those who hate the Father – not to harass them, but to demonstrate the Father’s character to them.
But – and this is a big but – we cannot merely think of the church as an abstract “she”. For while all of the things said above are true of the church as an institution, we need to recall that the church consists of none other than ourselves. We are the bride of Christ. We are the ones who represent the father – not only to the world outside, but also to one another. As individuals, we have the gift of the Spirit – who variously gifts us for the edification of the congregation. And by this same spirit we are united – we are the church of Christ – the body of Christ.
Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honourable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honourable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honour and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
The Ruminating Ox 